Pressurised water cleaning can improve solar generation efficiency by 10%
Researchers in China have investigated the dust-scaling process and various water-based cleaning methods to optimise maintenance strategies for enhanced safety and efficiency in solar systems.
Victorian startup to step up production of lightweight electric motor tech
Victorian startup Kite Magnetics plans to accelerate the development and production of its lightweight electric motor technology with a new advanced manufacturing facility to be established in Melbourne.
Leapting rolls out PV module-mounting robot in Australia
Leapting will soon deploy a solar module-mounting robot at an Australian project, saying the automatic installation speed of the AI-driven machine can reach one panel per minute, delivering an estimated 30% reduction in installation costs on utility scale solar projects.
Thermal storage beats hydrogen, electrification on industrial costs
A new study in Germany shows the advantages of thermal energy storage in the decarbonisation of industrial processes, including in Australia. The researchers noted clear cost advantages and high potential for flexibility in the power grid.
202 MW New Zealand agrisolar project reaches financial close
The Harmony Energy and First Renewables joint venture have approved the final investment and successfully completed financial close on the 202 MW Tauhei Solar Farm on Aotearoa New Zealand’s North Island.
Planets align for Australia’s first live DER integration into wholesale markets
Manager of Western Australia’s South West Interconnected System Western Power has been allocated $20.8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for its Project Jupiter, which for the first time in Australia will integrate a live distributed energy resources marketplace with wholesale markets.
Testing shows BIPV using patterned glass performs better than expected
Scientists have compared conventional PV modules to self-made BIPV panels with thicker, patterned glass. They tested them both under standard conditions and outdoors under Korean summer conditions. Yield was found to be only 0.5% lower in the textured BIPV module.
Solar pioneer Andrew Blakers AO named on Australia Day honours list
A co-inventor of the passivated emitter and rear cell silicon solar cell technology, Professor Andrew Blakers, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on the 2025 Australia Day Honours list.
Vena flicks switch on ‘benchmark’ solar and storage facility
Vena Energy is claiming a milestone for the Australian power market with the successful commissioning of a 41.5 MW battery energy storage system as part its Tailem Bend 2 solar-plus-storage project in South Australia.
Scientists build 23.2%-efficient lead-tin perovskite solar cell with improved lifetime
The researchers built the cell with a hole transport layer (HTL) based on PEDOT:PSS and were reportedly able to reduce the losses caused by this compound with the utilisation of a thiocyanate additive. The champion lab-sized device achieved an open circuit voltage of 0.875 V, a short circuit current density of 31.84 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 83.23%.
